The Government will ban the use of lead weights by anglers, because of the damage done to swams, if a voluntary approach does not work, Lord Skelmersdale, the Government spokesman, said during question time in the House of Lords.
Answering a question on progress on the protection of swans, he said: "The Government has declared its firm intention to take effective action to protect swans from poisoning by anglers' lead weights."
The Government will ban the sale of most lead weights for angling from January 1, 1987 if the voluntary approach, supported by the angling organisations, has not proved successful by the end of the current fishing season.
In addition the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales, have issued a model bye-law to water authorities so they can, if they wish, ban the use of lead weights for fishing in their areas.
